11-16-2011, 06:54 AM
Greetings,
My knowledge of the late Roman army is very feeble at best.
However, as my research involves applying a tribal system in combination with the Roman cosmos system a change in the Roman tribal organisation should occur during the reign of Honorius. The number produced from this change is 7200 men organised into six age divisions of 1200 men.
The 7200 men can be organised horizontally or vertically. In its horizontal arrangement the 7200 men can be organised into 1200 men of the same age division. The 7200 men when organised vertically distributes the men into five units each of 1440 men. A 1440 man unit can be organised into six units of 240 men. Orisius, when describing Pompey’s army at Pharsalus states that in his days a unit of 1500 men was called a “truman.” As Orisius is living in the correct time frame I find it hard to ignore him as 1440 could be rounded to 1500 men. By reducing a 1440 unit by one units of 240 men, the unit will be reduced to 1200 men, 960 men, 720 men, 480 men, and 240 men.
I have calculated a 1200 men unit in its horizontal organisation consists of 10 units of 120 men. Any number of the 10 units can be taken out thereby reducing the unit to 1080 men, 960 men, 840 men, 720 men, 600 men, 480 men, 360 men and 240 men. I also am inclined to believe a 1200 man unit is commanded by a tribunus cohort. My next hunch is the 7200 men are divided into 3600 iuniores and 3600 seniores. This is done by taking the oldest troops from each age division and dividing them into iuniores and seniores. So for example if age division one is aged from 18 to 21 years, those 18 to 19 are iuniores and those aged 20 to 21 years are seniores. I’ve done it this way so as to be able to produce units of exculcatores seniores and exculcatores iuniores.
I have no idea of whether such terms as pilus prior or posterior or hastatus prior or posterior still exist in 400 AD or even what to call the six age divisions. I have organised the 7200 men into 60 centuries and 30 maniples. In this manner, a century numbers 120 men and a maniple 240 men. Isidore gives the size of a maniple at 200 men which my research shows belongs to the 6000 man legion of Vegetius. So I have followed the same organisation and increased the century and maniple accordingly.
Now I’m not asking anyone to agree with my research involving the cosmos. What I am asking is if the 7200 men theory can be further supported by evidence in the primary sources. I would further like to see if it is possible to break the six age divisions into their respective troop types. My theory at the moment is of the 3600 iuniores or 3600 men seniores, 2400 men are heavy infantry and 1200 men are light infantry. I have a gut feeling the three lines are still in operation but as I have already stated, this period is not my expertise so I would really like the help.
Steven
My knowledge of the late Roman army is very feeble at best.
However, as my research involves applying a tribal system in combination with the Roman cosmos system a change in the Roman tribal organisation should occur during the reign of Honorius. The number produced from this change is 7200 men organised into six age divisions of 1200 men.The 7200 men can be organised horizontally or vertically. In its horizontal arrangement the 7200 men can be organised into 1200 men of the same age division. The 7200 men when organised vertically distributes the men into five units each of 1440 men. A 1440 man unit can be organised into six units of 240 men. Orisius, when describing Pompey’s army at Pharsalus states that in his days a unit of 1500 men was called a “truman.” As Orisius is living in the correct time frame I find it hard to ignore him as 1440 could be rounded to 1500 men. By reducing a 1440 unit by one units of 240 men, the unit will be reduced to 1200 men, 960 men, 720 men, 480 men, and 240 men.
I have calculated a 1200 men unit in its horizontal organisation consists of 10 units of 120 men. Any number of the 10 units can be taken out thereby reducing the unit to 1080 men, 960 men, 840 men, 720 men, 600 men, 480 men, 360 men and 240 men. I also am inclined to believe a 1200 man unit is commanded by a tribunus cohort. My next hunch is the 7200 men are divided into 3600 iuniores and 3600 seniores. This is done by taking the oldest troops from each age division and dividing them into iuniores and seniores. So for example if age division one is aged from 18 to 21 years, those 18 to 19 are iuniores and those aged 20 to 21 years are seniores. I’ve done it this way so as to be able to produce units of exculcatores seniores and exculcatores iuniores.
I have no idea of whether such terms as pilus prior or posterior or hastatus prior or posterior still exist in 400 AD or even what to call the six age divisions. I have organised the 7200 men into 60 centuries and 30 maniples. In this manner, a century numbers 120 men and a maniple 240 men. Isidore gives the size of a maniple at 200 men which my research shows belongs to the 6000 man legion of Vegetius. So I have followed the same organisation and increased the century and maniple accordingly.
Now I’m not asking anyone to agree with my research involving the cosmos. What I am asking is if the 7200 men theory can be further supported by evidence in the primary sources. I would further like to see if it is possible to break the six age divisions into their respective troop types. My theory at the moment is of the 3600 iuniores or 3600 men seniores, 2400 men are heavy infantry and 1200 men are light infantry. I have a gut feeling the three lines are still in operation but as I have already stated, this period is not my expertise so I would really like the help.
Steven
